FLAVORITE GLASSHOUSES TOUR

The glasshouses you see on the Midland Highway near Tatura have become a familiar landmark for the district. We assume they are producing a consistent supply of high-quality fresh produce like truss tomatoes. However, in recent years they have diversified their product range to include cherry tomatoes, mini-Roma tomatoes, continental cucumbers, and snack cucumbers (Tiny Q’s), with the possibility of growing capsicums and eggplants. Across Australia there has been an increase in this type of food production.

Unlike traditional field farming, Flavorite’s glasshouse production enables them to control all aspects of the growing environment. With access to state-of-the-art technology and extensive growing experience, Flavorite glasshouse tomato production yields 80kg per square meter vs field tomato production which yields 6.9kg per square meter. Further to this, glasshouse production requires 22 litres of irrigation water to produce 1kg of tomatoes vs field production which requires 116 litres to produce 1kg of tomatoes.

During March 2021, Flavorite were presented with the opportunity to formally merge with the Murphy and Tatura Fresh businesses after a 20-year supply relationship. This merger has strengthened Flavorite’s market position and allowed further product and geographic growing diversification.

During 2022, Flavorite finalised the building of their new six-hectare glasshouse at the Tatura site. The new glasshouse is expected to increase their employee base in the Goulburn Valley region from 110 to 170 employees. The build was made possible through contributions from the state government’s Victorian Business Growth Fund (VBGF) and the Regional Jobs Fund. This glasshouse is expected to produce a further 4,000 tonnes of tomatoes a year and they are not stopping there. Flavorite plans to build a further twelve-hectare glasshouse, 40 megalitre dam and a 12,000m2 state-of-the-art packing and logistics facility over the next 12 to 24 months.

Flavorite are Australia’s largest glasshouse producer of fresh fruit and vegetables spanning four farms throughout regional Victoria (Katunga, Tatura, Mansfield, and Warragul) with a total of over 70 hectares of production under glass.

If you would like to see and learn more about Flavorite’s Tatura operation, the Rotary Club of Tatura has partnered with Flavorite to organise a fund-raising tour of the site for charity. The tour will start at 4.00pm on Friday, April 14, with a session describing the past, current and future plans for the site, followed by a site tour and light refreshments, finishing at 6.00pm. The contribution of $20 will be administered by the Rotary Club of Tatura and will go directly to charity.

For more information and to register for a place in the tour send a message via email to: sj.lolicato@gmail.com

- Sam Lolicato

Staying Healthy

Three things you can do today to help support your hormones. There are some incredible benefits to being in the present moment for you, and for your hormones.

The best support is active stress management support and there are several ways you can do this.

1. In a moment of stress, focus on what’s right in front of you. Staying present by only focusing on you an around you, until you’re ready to resume your day.

2 Staying present through practicing techniques such as deep breathing in your office chair when you feel stressed by focusing on your breath and the bridge of your nose.

3. Practise deep belly breathing. Find a comfy spot to sit down and breathe in through your nose. Let your belly fill with air. Breathe out through your nose. Relax your abdomen. As you breath out, feel your belly lower. Your belly should be moving up and down more than your chest. Take a few more full, deep breaths. Relax and focus on your breath.

A guided meditation and yoga can make a wonderful difference and help support your overall hormone health. I use the headspace app to guide me through meditation.

My favourite ways to stay present are:

- Going for a walk or pottering in my garden and really noticing the elements and how they make me feel.

- Focusing on how my body feels at that moment and take 3 to 4 deep breaths to help release the feeling stored in that area of my body

- Cuddling my cat Leo, as he is calming

-A candle lit bath with deep breathing, to clear excess stored stressed before bed

- Be aware of your surroundings then noises around you, the smells, how you are feeling and what am I grateful now?

Your options are unlimited. What is your favourite way to keep present and enjoy the moment?

- Diana Miranda, Clinical Nutrition, Metabolic Balance Practitioner